Honey has a protective effect against chlorpyrifos-induced toxicity on lipid peroxidation, diagnostic markers and hepatic histoarchitecture

Introduction: Currently, there is increasing interest in the identification of natural sources of antioxidants that have minimal side effects and can be used as preventive medicine. In this study, the protective role of honey against oxidative damage and hepatotoxicity induced by sub-chronic exposure to chlorpyrifos (CPF) was investigated. Methods: Female Wistar rats (n = 24) were randomly divided into the following four groups: (1) control, (2) honey-treated (3.0 g/kg), (3) CPF-treated (5.4 mg/kg) and (4) honey (3.0 g/kg)+ CPF (5.4 mg/kg) treatments. All of the doses were administered daily via oral gavage for 4 weeks. Results: Oral exposure to CPF caused hepato- and nephrotoxicity as indicated by the marked elevation in the serum hepatic marker enzymes (the transaminases and alkaline phosphatase activities), the total bilirubin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine and hepatic lipid peroxidation levels, whereas the serum total protein level was significantly lower compared with the control. A significant decrease in the body weight gain and an increase in the absolute and relative liver weights were observed in the CPF-treated animals compared with the control. The biochemical alterations observed were accompanied by histopathological changes marked by the appearance of degenerative necrosis, congestion, inflammation and edema in the liver section. However, co-treatment with honey ameliorated the changes in the investigated biochemical parameters and the changes in the body and liver weights as revealed by the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and the improvement observed histopathologically. Conclusions: The present study suggests that honey has a protective potential for the alleviation of hepatic and renal toxicities induced by CPF. (C) 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.